At length, Upon the tremulous bridge, that from beneath Seemed with a cobweb firmament to link The earthquake-shattered chasm, hung with shrubs, We passed with tears of rapture. All the West, And even unto the middle South, was ribb'd And barr'd with bloom on bloom. The sun beneath, Held for a space 'twixt cloud and wave, shower'd down Rays of a mighty circle, weaving over That varied wilderness a tissue of light Unparallel'd. On the other side the moon, Half-melted into thin blue air, stood still And pale and fibrous as a wither'd leaf, Nor yet endured in presence of his eyes To imbue his lustre; most unloverlike; Since in his absence full of light and joy And giving light to others. But this chiefest, Next to her presence whom I loved so well, Spoke loudly, even into my inmost heart, As to my outward hearing: the loud stream, Forth issuing from his portals in the crag (A visible link unto the home of my heart), Ran amber toward the West, and nigh the sea, Parting my own loved mountains, was received Shorn of its strength, into the sympathy Of that small bay, which into open main Glow'd intermingling close beneath the sun Spirit of Love! That little hour was bound, Shut in from Time, and dedicate to thee; Thy fires from heav'n had touch'd it, and the earth They fell on became hallow'd evermore. We turn'd: our eyes met: her's were bright, and mine Were dim with floating tears, that shot the sunset, In light rings round me; and my name was borne Upon her breath. Henceforth my name has been A hallow'd memory, like the names of old; A center'd, glory-circled memory, And a peculiar treasure, brooking not Exchange or currency; and in that hour A hope flow'd round me, like a golden mist Charm'd amid eddies of melodious airs, A moment, ere the onward whirlwind shatter it, Waver'd and floated--which was less than Hope, Because it lack'd the power of perfect Hope; But which was more and higher than all Hope, Because all other Hope hath lower aim; Even that this name to which her seraph lips Did lend such gentle utterance, this one name In some obscure hereafter, might inwreathe (How lovelier, nobler then!) her life, her love, With my life, love, soul, spirit and heart and strength. 'Brother,' she said, 'let this be call'd henceforth The Hill of Hope'; and I replied: 'O sister, My will is one with thine; the Hill of Hope.' Nevertheless, we did not change the name.